Musing – Why did the LORD commend Josiah?

Hebraic Musing – Why did the LORD commend Josiah?

He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the Lord.   Jer. 22:16   Caring for the needy flows out of knowing God, and draws us closer to Him.

Church-goers have heard many messages on the topic of ‘giving’ and all too often our ears, and the messenger’s message, are tainted with self-serve-ness. On the other hand, we all know that “God loves a cheerful giver” 2 Cor.9:7.  And James said “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…” James 1:27  

When there is an accident on the highway, why do the folks passing by jump out of their cars to help?  It is our nature to help; we enjoy being useful to friends, family and especially to the family of God.

The people I’ve met in life that seem most fulfilled are missionaries. Why?  They are giving their lives to help the less fortunate in this world. And you may describe ‘less fortunate’ many ways.

Did you hear about the guy who complained to his pastor about the constant messages about tithing and giving? “Give, give, give is all you talk about”.  Pastor met the guy later in the week and said “Thank you for giving me the most succinct way to describe a Christian’s walk – Give, Give, Give.”

The Hebrew word “Tzedakah” is frequently translated as “Charity” – giving aid, assistance and money to the poor and needy. The Tzedakah box in our house has become a blessing. Loose change goes into the ‘jar’ and I say a little prayer – “Thank you Lord that I can help the less fortunate”.  The last time the jar filled, we sent the $300+ to my grandchildren in Honduras as God’s money to distribute to the less fortunate that they encounter.  And I remember a church collection of loose change for a worthwhile cause and the pastor said it was okay to put paper in the collection plate to cushion the clank of the coins.

Can you recall when you experienced joy after giving to someone less fortunate?  Aside from ‘leading people to the Lord’, a personal and profoundly memorable experience occurred a few years ago at Christmas time. The woman in front of me at the cashier was counting her money carefully and it was obvious she was struggling financially. I handed the cashier a wad of money to cover the woman’s grocery purchases, wished her a Merry Christmas and we went our separate ways (with no way to be repaid). My feet never touched the ground as I left that store. Wow! That felt good!

Point to ponder

How might a ‘Tzedakah’ box/jar become a blessing in your home?

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                 January 15, 2013

From Judaism 101:

The Obligation of Tzedakah -- Giving to the poor is an obligation in Judaism, a duty that cannot be forsaken even by those who are themselves in need. Some sages have said that tzedakah is the highest of all commandments, equal to all of them combined, and that a person who does not perform tzedakah is equivalent to an idol worshipper. This is probably hyperbole, but it illustrates the importance of tzedakah in Jewish thought.

The Meaning of "Tzedakah"   "Tzedakah" is the Hebrew word for the acts that we call "charity" in English: giving aid, assistance and money to the poor and needy. However, the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity.  "Charity" suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and powerful for the benefit of the poor and needy. The word "tzedakah" is derived from the Hebrew root Tzadei-Dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness. In Judaism, giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act; it is simply an act of justice and righteousness, the performance of a duty, giving the poor their due.